 Most viewed - Musashimaru Retirement Ceremony 武蔵丸断髪式 |
Sumo match with kids1909 viewsA retirement ceremony for an important sumo wrestler includes a variety of activities besides the actual ceremony of cutting away the topknot. It involves almost the entire Japan Sumo Association, and most wrestlers in the top three divisions (Makushita, Juryo, and Makunouchi) also appear in exhibition matches.
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Snip by Yokozuna Asashoryu and a symbolic passing of the baton from one foreign yokozuna to the next (and only) foreign yokozuna.1466 viewsMongolia's Golden Age of Sumo has begun.
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Musashimaru's final dohyo-iri1264 views
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Musashimaru right after I shook his hand.1015 views
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The final cut by stablemaster Musashigawa Oyakata.956 views
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Kumu hula Sonny Ching beats the ipu gourd drum, a traditional Hawaiian instrument. This must be a first, a kumu hula performing on the sumo ring in Japan.952 views
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Final match of the day with Yokozuna Asashoryu939 views
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798 viewsA retirement ceremony for an important sumo wrestler includes a variety of activities besides the actual ceremony of cutting away the topknot. It involves almost the entire Japan Sumo Association, and most wrestlers in the top three divisions (Makushita, Juryo, and Makunouchi) also appear in exhibition matches.
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Musashigawa Stable wrestler wearing Aloha-print yukata776 viewsFlowery pattern (plumeria) with "Musashimaru" imprinted.
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Musashimaru and his flowers773 viewsThis was his last appearance at this retirement ceremony.
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Konishiki also sings. (His company arranged the entertainment.)749 views
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"Robocop" Takamisakari gets ready748 viewsThe top-division Makunouchi wrestlers went through their matches quickly.
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Snip and a hug by Konishiki (Question: Where was Akebono??)692 views
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Ryogoku Kokugikan sumo arena as seen from Ryogoku Station637 views
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Tying the rope at the back.633 views
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Musashimaru minus his topknot630 views
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He was grim-faced all throughout626 views
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Hawaii's last sumo wrestler shakes hands.611 viewsIf he were married, his wife would be beside him.
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Rear view of the shiranui style of tying the rope.608 viewsHe turned in all four directions to show everyone what it looked like. This is what is called the shiranui style of tying the rope. It is characterized by a single loop in the back. The other style, called unryu, has twin loops.
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Konishiki is called and he enters600 views
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Snip by Musashimaru's brother599 views
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But his mom cannot step on the sumo ring...592 viewsFemales are prohibited from entering the sumo ring. Barring women from stepping onto the sumo ring, even to give an award to a wrestler, is one of the most blatant and preposterous forms of sexual discrimination in Japan. It was devised centuries ago, and for the sake of tradition, traditionalists in the sumo world have maintained this extremely absurd custom and belief that women are considered to be impure (due to menstruation). I'm not saying this as a gaijin (foreigner) who likes to criticize Japan or the Japanese. Nor am I saying this as a women's rights advocate. I say this from the standpoint of plain, old common sense.
Up to 1909, women were actually not allowed enter a sumo arena to view sumo matches. And once upon a time, women were prohibited from setting foot on sacred Mt. Fuji. Can you imagine if these traditions were still being practiced today?
Such discriminatory practices were abolished long ago, and here we are in the 21st century with women still unable to step into the sumo ring. The Japan Sumo Association has constantly rejected requests from important female ministers in the Prime Minister's Cabinet to give an award to the tournament winner in the sumo ring.
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Signboard for retirement ceremony at entrance.587 viewsIt reads "Musashimaru, Intai Danpatsu Hiroo Ozumo" which means "Musashimaru Topknot-Cutting and Retirement Sumo Exhibition."
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More blood relatives (or brothers)587 views
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They wrap the rope around his waist from the front, or the thickest part of the rope.583 viewsThis was a demonstration on how they tie on the thick, white rope (tsuna) around his waist. The tsuna is the symbol of the yokozuna. It takes several assistants to put it on. They are all wearing white gloves.
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Snip by stablemate Ozeki Musoyama582 views
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Nephews give a flower bouquet (they can step on the sumo ring)556 views
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Comic sumo (shokkiri sumo)551 viewsThis is comedy time with two young wrestlers performing various comical antics (spitting at each other, kicking, and other illegal sumo acts) on the ring.
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Snip by Kitanoumi, the head of the Japan Sumo Association544 views
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542 views
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Pulling it tight542 views
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Ozeki Musoyama is defeated.541 views
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Musashimaru's final dohyo-iri541 views
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Musashimaru finally appears for a yokozuna belt demo535 views
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Oh, I gotta take a picture of this...534 viewsLook at the gyoji referee who must be thinking, "C'mon, hurry up!"
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Giant painted pictures of Musashimaru decorating the arena inside. Each one commemorates a tournament victory.533 viewsThese giant pictures are actually black-and-white photographs taken in a photo studio and printed on large paper. Then it is hand-painted in color by a woman who has been doing it for years.
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His mom is next...533 views
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Musashimaru's final dohyo-iri530 viewsHe could have had Yokozuna Asashoryu be either the sword bearer or dew sweeper, but he chose to have his stablemates to join his final dohyo-iri.
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Musashimaru's final dohyo-iri527 views
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Comic sumo (shokkiri sumo)524 viewsThis is comedy time with two young wrestlers performing various comical antics (spitting at each other, kicking, and other illegal sumo acts) on the ring.
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The End of Hawaii's Golden Age in sumo. For the first time since 1968, no wrestler from Hawaii is in the top Makunouchi division.520 views
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Yumitori-shiki bow-twirling ceremony518 views
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Makushita sumo match517 viewsLower-division wrestlers wear black belts, while the upper division wrestlers wear white belts (during practice) or colored belts during official matches.
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The scissors (golden)513 viewsI think it was given by French President Chirac who is a sumo fan.
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Musashimaru acknowledges a spectator as he proceeds to the ring.508 viewsThis was a demonstration on how they tie on the thick, white rope (tsuna) around his waist. The tsuna is the symbol of the yokozuna. It takes several assistants to put it on. They are all wearing white gloves.
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Sumo jinku496 viewsThey are singing sumo jinku, a chant-like song about sumo and sumo wrestlers. They are singing about Musashimaru and his career.
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Musashigawa stablemaster (former Yokozuna Mienoumi) in the entrance hall491 viewsInside the entrance hallway, there was a long table on the left side with ribbons which served as name tags for distinguished guests. Musashigawa is the name of Musashimaru's sumo stable.
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Panoramic shot of the Kokugikan489 viewsNotice the upper floor was quite empty, similar to Akebono's retirement ceremony.
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Musashimaru's final dohyo-iri ends484 views
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Musashimaru greets the crowd482 views
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He performs his last yokozuna dohyo-iri ring-entering ceremony. He is flanked by Musoyama on the left as the sword bearer, and Miyabiyama on the right as the dew sweeper.479 views
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Exiting the building472 views
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Snip by actor Hiroshi Fujioka, who played Kamen Rider in the '70s.471 views
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470 views
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Yokozuna "tsuna" belt demo467 views
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Awaiting the final cut as we listen to one of his famous matches.467 views
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Hairdressing demonstration458 views
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The kids gradually get bigger.446 views
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Male hula dancer at one corner446 viewsThe original plan was for the hula dancers to perform on the ring itself. But at the last minute, Musashimaru decided that it was not appropriate so they danced outside the ring.
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Snip by singer Shigeru Matsuzaki443 viewsFamous for his classic hit, "Ai no Memory."
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Asashoryu in the face-off436 views
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Musashimaru doll433 views
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Musashimaru goes back and then comes back...433 views
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Head supporter speaks432 views
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Makunouchi dohyo-iri428 viewsNext was exhibition sumo matches by the top-division Makunouchi wrestlers. Musashimaru never appeared again.
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Asashoryu later won428 views
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Makunouchi dohyo-iri425 views
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Calling Musashimaru (with a conch shell)420 views
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The retirement ceremony had a lot of Hawaiian touches. This was only the beginning.417 viewsHula dancers and live Hawaiian band from Hawaii.
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Yokozuna Asashoryu performs his dohyo-iri ring-entering ceremony417 views
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This must be a first, a kumu hula (hula teacher) from Hawaii performing on the sumo ring.410 viewsHe is Sonny Ching, a well-known hula teacher in Hawaii. He brought four male hula dancers who danced at the four corners of the ring.
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In the entrance hall, hula and Hawaiian music direct from Hawaii405 views
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The chair404 views
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Here he comes...403 views
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Takamisakari wins398 views
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He goes back to the dressing room395 views
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Juryo sumo match384 views
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Juryo Division dohyo-iri ring-entering ceremony381 views
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Sumo exhibition matches with lower division Makushita wrestlers.378 viewsA retirement ceremony for an important sumo wrestler includes a variety of activities besides the actual ceremony of cutting away the topknot. It involves almost the entire Japan Sumo Association, and most wrestlers in the top three divisions (Makushita, Juryo, and Makunouchi) also appear in exhibition matches.
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Makunochi dohyo-iri ring-entering ceremony375 views
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The ceremony opens with taiko drum beating on the sumo ring.365 views
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Makunouchi dohyo-iri365 views
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Musashimaru souvenirs at the Kokugikan's souvenir shop363 views
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Laying the red carpet for the main event.362 views
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Yobidashi wearing Aloha-print garb355 views
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Musashigawa Stable wrestlers greet visitors350 viewsIncludes Miyabiyama and Musoyama.
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Makunouchi dohyo-iri350 views
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Entrance hall is clogged up by a side show of hula.335 views
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Musashimaru merchandise334 views
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Musashimaru at the entrance323 views
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Tidying up the ring322 views
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Taiko drum demonstration316 views
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Crowd outside the Kokugikan await their favorite wrestlers.301 views
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Passing out programs267 views
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Crowd enters the Kokugikan for Musashimaru's retirement ceremony on Oct. 2, 2004.258 views
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